An Employment Appeals Tribunal heard Vanessa Tucker (38) only learned her administration job might be at risk through "rumour". She was shocked after she was informed at a meeting in November 2010 that she was being made redundant after 10 years with the FAI.

No details of the settlement were disclosed to the tribunal.

During her time at the FAI, Ms Tucker, from Rush, Co Dublin, had worked as a personal assistant to former FAI technical director Mr Bonner. She had also served the previous chief executive Brendan Menton.

At a previous tribunal sitting, the FAI human resources director Stephen Driver had denied that the organisation had drawn up a "hit list" of employees it wanted to get rid of during redundancies in 2010, when 12 people were let go.

Mr Driver said the redundancies had been carried out in a "fair manner" and the basis for it was on workers' functions.

The tribunal heard the FAI had to reduce its "headcount" as it attempted to enforce a cost-cutting programme.

Ms Tucker had been based at the FAI headquarters in Abbotstown, Dublin 15.

She worked in the ticket office and at the reception before becoming a PA.

However, she had relinquished this role to carry out general administrative work in the technical department after she had asked her employers for a shorter working week.